Mornings around here are rough, plain and simple.
As much as I try, nothing in this world, short of H’s wake up cries, can rouse me from my warm and comfy bed, especially before 9am. Even then, I usually bring him into bed with me for some nursing snuggles, because mama is a fan of all. the. sleeps
So while I may never be the early bird getting the worm, there are a few things I keep in my arsenal of tricks to help ease the early morning wake ups.
First off: coffee – I know, duh. But seriously, coffee is my BFF most mornings, especially those that involve me seeing any time before 8. Yes, I’m still breastfeeding, and yes, a cup or two of caffeinated coffee are perfectly fine and acceptable and will do no harm to you or your nursling. Because I only indulge in one cup in the mornings, I’m more picky about what kind of coffee I buy. Mixcups is this awesome new service that I recently discovered that delivers variety packs of K-cups directly to your home! No more dragging yourself to the cupboard to make your morning cup to discover that you’re out of coffee, or having to run to the grocery store in your embarrassing pajamas to restock your caffeine supply. The box I got had 30 pods, which easily lasted me just over 3 weeks, and had a good mix of light, medium and dark roasts as well as flavored and non-flavored varieties so no matter what I was craving in my morning cup, Mixcups had it covered! Not much of a fan of flavored coffee? Or is tea more up your alley? You can choose from a Standard Coffee Mix, Non-Flavored Coffee Mix, or a Tea Lovers mix for your subscription, or they have a vast majority of decaf, bold, medium, light and mixed varieties in their shop as well!
This Weestructed Raising Tiny Humans is ExhaustingTM mug is the perfect mug for any tired parent / teacher / nanny / etc and is the perfect vessel to accompany Mixcup’s elixir of life.
My second trick to waking up even when I really really dont want to – yoga. Even if I only have about 10 minutes, I try to go through one of these one | two | three morning wakeup routines to get my day started. Along with a healthy breakfast, centering myself (even with a crazy toddler climbing all over me) with a little am yoga stretching helps me relax, prepares me for my day ahead and wakes me up. Since I’ve started my morning routine plus going to a few classes a week, I upgraded from practicing on the carpeted floor and borrowing one that complete strangers have been using to picking up one of my own (which p.s. makes for way easier and more comfortable posing) so naturally I’m now a master of all things yoga, right? Not really. But, I love that this mat in particular is way longer for my amazonian woman limbs than the one I picked up on clearance a few years ago at a discount store.
My final go to is a cute mom life tee or tank like these two from JumpingJack and LittleDudeNDudette to help me feel better about my morning woes and coffee obsession. With some vintage levis cutoffs and sweet Proof eyewear shades to cover the bags under me eyes, I can almost look put together – like I maybe almost kinda sorta got an acceptable amount of sleep the night before.
Where to buy: Weestructed Mug // Youphoria Yoga Mat // JumpingJack Mom Life Tank // Proof Eyewear Sunglasses // LittleDudeNDudette Mug Life Tee // Mixcups coffee variety pack // Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System [which p.s. is on sale for $45 off right now on amazon]
Are you a coffee lover?
Does something like Mixcups intrigue you?
What’s your favorite morning flavor?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and I may have received one or more of the aforementioned products for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. Regardless, I only recommend products I truly use and enjoy!
LOL that shirt! it's so me except maybe not the yoga part. I look like a new born giraffe whenever i try yoga lol
Right?! Same here, but at least I can pretend like I know what I'm doing when I'm in the privacy of my own home 🙂
Love the t shirt. I need to resume my yoga… thanks for the reminder 🙂
Aren't they so cute?! Yoga is awesome in the mornings!
Great post! For me, coffee sums up for like 80% to feel fresh. Loved the tee! I could actually buy all the coffee related stuff! 🙂
Seriously though, I'm pretty useless without my morning cup!!
I love the tank! I used to not be a morning person but the past month or so I have been waking up at 5am and working out everyday. I am sure that will change when my fiance and I start our own family so I guess now I need to get my workouts in while I can.
Oh my gosh, you are amazing! 5am is no joke, that takes some serious willpower and dedication! Go you!
What a great post. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Charlene!
Mixcups sounds like a great idea for coffee variety! – Trish at Birdhouse Books
They got me to try some flavors that I never thought I would!
I love the tank top…and, of course, the coffee too!!
I'm obsessed with the tank and have not so subtly asked my hubby for it 🙂
Lol you have lots of great ideas and tips! thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Alex!
Lovely post. I'm definitely not a morning person and I can't imagine having to start the day without having a good coffee.
Ditto! I wish I was, but I'm just more of a night owl 🙂
I used MixCups and I thought it was awesome! I'm a huge coffee drinker but love to change up the variety every morning, so this was perfect for me!
Glad to hear you had a good experience too!
Thanks!!!!!! Morning are super hard over here as well. I'm not a morning person and it's hard for me to always get up in the morning. Im going to try your yoga tip even though I don't do yoga but I'm going to try that. Thanks
Its more of a stretching routine than yoga, and VERY easy for beginners!
So happy to not be the only one struggling in the morning! I just really wish I could get into a routine that was positive for me but alas the boys in my life like to keep my mornings interesting, so no routine for this mama!
But seriously, how do you do yoga with a toddler??? What is your secret!
Hahaha Danielle, Hulk crawls all over me while I stretch, but I can sometimes get him to try to copy what I do and it's SO cute and he giggles when I give him accolades!
Mmm, I'm craving coffee now! That coffee box is a great idea. I love any type of flavored coffee, combined with any flavored creamer. Mostly caramel.
I'm a sucker for caramel!
I need to get back into my yoga! My mat just stares at me, like come on, get down here! lol, Thanks for sharing!
Haha mine was too for a LONG time until I finally got back into it!
Thanks for sharing about Mixcups! I cannot go without my coffee!!!!!!
Seriously though – it comes right to your front door!
AWESOME. I will say that I am not a coffee drinker. {GASP} I know!! BUT, I can't live without TEA. It's what gets me going in the morning. As for the mug and the top. I NEED them pronto. 😉 Fun post, thanks for sharing!!!
I love a good green tea on my non-coffee days for sure!
I used to work out in the morning and it really set me up for my day. But, I recently moved and it's a lot harder to get to my gym from here. Definitely need to get back into my morning routine!
I used to do that before having a kid and now I just cannot seem to get anywhere!
My early morning schedule is very important to the success of my day! I love that shirt! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading, Ashleigh!
Oh goodness. Don't even talk to me until i get my coffee. heheh
Haha I totally agree! I need a curtain around me before anyone should be allowed to speak!
My morning routine lately has been getting up, working out, and shakeology. It really seems to get me going for the day!
I am loving that tank and tee. Yes, I'm a coffee drinker too. Which mom isn't, right? lol. I'd love to have those Mixcups.
I am a tea drinker but my hubby is the coffee lover. I do love the smell of a good cup'o'joe, but I just can't fathom the taste. <3 Christine, The Choosy Mommy, http://www.choosykids.blogspot.com
I may have to look into the mixing cups especially if they have decaf!
That "mug life" tee is the best! <3 I fail at doing the top knot, so I can't relate to the tank (so sad, but…someday)!